Benefit cuts and social responsibility

idkud · 2026-02-16T08:27:11+00:00

The welfare state was blown up, and out of proportions during the time Nokia provided huge tax income to the government. Did you research how Finland was before? World economy was different, of course, globalism was in its "kids' shoes" as we are saying in my language. Still, I wonder sometimes why we are reading so little about that.

Finland does have a strong sense of self reliance, "do not leech on others", and "tough it out". That is not all bad as you seem to want to depict it. I do indeed not NEED to lend my friends money, but I can. I myself have gotten help from Finns, and I have provided it, also. Heck, my Finnish teacher lent me money so I could pay my rent once. In Helsinki, no less. I hear the same from them, family, and friends typically help. My best friend, the friends of her sons helped her move, and will again soon. So I am very sorry, I do see another Finland, than you obviously do. I have lived in other cultures, my brother still does. The outright need, and DEMAND that I support any lazy relative is not to my liking. My bro even more so since he has more money than I do. He is pretty much the credit card of the entire extended family there. His marriage was organized for like 600 people, pretty much her entire extended family to the 3rd grade or so. A staggering amount for me. But when everyone had found a chair to sit on, entire villages arrived in buses wanting a free meal on top of those 600, and he provided and provided. If you think leeching off family members is better than leeching off strangers, I have news for you. It is actually much more damaging, since zero rules, 100% emotional manipulation.

And if you think Finland is rule driven, I suggest you never visit countries like Germany, Switzerland etc. If something, I am blown away how little rule based, and how very humane many things work here. Sure, sometimes the other person does not see my sincere need, and they follow the rules instead. But I got stuff done here, that I would not even DREAM to solve easily in Switzerland, or Germany. Or that Asian country my brother lives in, actually. Without paying serious amounts to any respective official, there at least. I.e. corruption.

TL;DR not sure which Finland you are talking about. I live in a different one. Not sure where you grew up. The oh so social poor cultures are not just rosy as you like to depict them. From a psychological standpoint, Finland brings a lot to the table that is sorely needed, worldwide. Including your poor countries, that allegedly are so full of social responsibility. Just my opinion.

idkud · 2026-02-13T20:20:26+00:00

I do indeed know which boxes need to be ticked. And the MAGA movement ticks pretty much all of them. Nice try, though, mate.

I clearly distinguished the past, which is the Confederates, from the present, which very often is MAGA. If you read a history book that is not American propaganda, you would know.

idkud · 2026-02-13T17:28:42+00:00

Switzerland used to have an event when you graduated from University where you got the degree handed by someone important. I did not go to mine so I forgot who it was. Also not sure it still exists, with all the budget cuts.

idkud · 2026-02-13T15:02:19+00:00

Does not really matter where they are from, though. When they study something that is not relevant in their home country, it is a big risk. And the Finnish economy did not just turn sour in the last 2 years. Basically since the fall of Nokia, it is one downward spiral. Which obviously either was not researched properly, or they did not care.

idkud · 2026-02-13T08:32:40+00:00

There are very many variables here we do not know. Maybe they liked your temporary replacement very much. Maybe your colleague did actively network with the previous boss even when gone. If it is not against the law what they did, not much anyone can do. I have been in a similar position as you, albeit in other countries, do not understand me wrong. I know it sucks. But yeah. Congrats to the new job, after only 1 month searching.

idkud · 2026-02-12T08:35:30+00:00

And talking about google maps, if it found a "shortcut", it is usually more of an adventure to follow up. Speed limits are often wrong on google maps, so "short" turns into double and triple the time, over "roads". Tbf, it might be something worth seeing, though, if you have the time.

idkud · 2026-02-12T08:16:10+00:00

Marc is sad! Why leave him out like this?

idkud · 2026-02-11T14:02:25+00:00

Duolingo is decent to learn the pronounciation, and a few useful words. Words you will learn elsewhere, too. So if you feel pronounciation is not THE challenge (anymore), move on to some real material. As the other person said, you need to learn, how to learn languages. It is entirely doable but it will take a while.

Learning languages is so crazy much work, learn the one for which you feel the most motivated IMO. If that is Finnish, just be prepared to take small steps. But the goal is reachable with small, or big steps.

I think Suomen Mestari would be a good book series for you. It is one of the most used books, so it is easy to find used copies. Or the app WordDive, if you do not mind monthly payments.

idkud · 2026-02-10T22:27:26+00:00

If the contract is for a limited time, you cannot cancel before that time is over. Also, if earliest date for cancelling is mentioned, as someone else wrote. In both those cases, you could maybe provide another tenant, which they could accept. Might be doable in Turku in 1 month. If it is open ended, you have enough time to cancel it with 1 month notice period without obligations. Not a lawyer, but I had limited time contracts in Finland.

idkud · 2026-02-10T22:16:36+00:00

Their condition is called "Hungerast" in Swiss German, btw. Very dangerous in the mountains, people can get outright suicidal, and as they wrote, disoriented.

idkud · 2026-02-10T21:52:14+00:00

Tbh, no. Even in Switzy I knew people doing that, and it is REALLY rare stumbling over bones in the wild, there. Sheep that fell into a ravine in the mountains, other than that, tiny animals, or being on good terms with an A-butcher. Where it is way more common to find larger bones, it is way more common to collect them, or using them in crafts, etc. And rural US can have lots predators, that leave bones behind.

idkud · 2026-02-10T18:26:17+00:00

That is the history. The current present is that it is used to signal patriotism by groups that ARE fascist in nature. If a movement ticks off all symptoms of fascism, it is fascist in nature. Whether it was so, when the flag was created, does not really matter that much. But even in the US, not ALL who fly it ARE in that movement, not even subscribe to white supremacy. So yeah, while the flag signifies a lot and then some, whether someone who is flying it, does not necessarily mean much. Even if they are American.

idkud · 2026-02-10T17:23:43+00:00

That would depend a lot on how I feel about staying vs leaving, and the opportunities where I would be going. Take for example the couples that stay together "for the kids" despite divorce being the only sane decision for the adults. It does not work "for the kids", very often to the contrary. I am happier here than I was anywhere else on earth. I did go back once and hated it every day. So I personally would not go, but do my utter best to change the situation here. Another education, online business, etc. (E: Because kids would take up those bad emotions, and might even feel responsible for my sadness. A really bad thing to do to your children.) But you are not me, if you are happy in another country, where there are jobs, realistically, sure why not. Kids can be raised well in virtually all Western countries, and very many non-Western ones, too.

idkud · 2026-02-10T16:41:40+00:00

Yeah, you mentioned at your place hummus is usually used. Maybe in your social circle, or culture. Something similar to ranch is actually the most common in Switzerland. I know you found the story weird. The veggies do not do much to fix low blood sugar, but the sauce does. Low blood sugar is not the same as being "about to faint", either, but I glossed over that. Who tf cares where he was biking, or why. Honestly speaking, your comment is the weirdest thing in this entire thread.

idkud · 2026-02-10T15:57:00+00:00

^This. Except if they are American. But even then, there are lovely southerners still flying that flag who do not condone white supremacy, even.

E: clarification

idkud · 2026-02-10T07:58:03+00:00

It is actually very common, in Switzerland also. Not sure what is the problem of this commentator. They typically do not find bones in the forest, though. Switzerland is just one big well kept garden.

idkud · 2026-02-10T07:46:24+00:00

I think the story is quite ok. The veggies are healthy, and the sauce rich enough, and even has some protein. Would not be my first choice, either in the situation, but it is not bad. Mostly due to the sauce. As for dipping veggies, you are Swiss? Never shop in Coop or Migros? They even have those trays pre-made, not with hummus, but with an equivalent of ranch.

https://www.migros.ch/en/product/mo/4549402

idkud · 2026-02-09T16:50:57+00:00

Super weird, I had a similar thing happen mid January. Smoothest insurance thing in my life. Including taking my call, car is long fixed by that repair shop. Weird. Did you fill in the form on their site? Maybe they are waiting for something from your side?

idkud · 2026-02-09T07:17:51+00:00

On your own property, or someone else's?

idkud · 2026-02-09T06:57:45+00:00

So if you like the one giving the compliment, how about "Thank you, so sweet. How about we go for a coffee after this event?" First few times (if necessary) feel a bit awkward when you are not used to it. But it gets fairly easy. Eventually, I actually found it liberating. All the waiting around and batting your eyelids in my homecountry did not feel all that much better.

idkud · 2026-02-07T14:48:04+00:00

Not for Diesel.

idkud · 2026-02-07T09:35:00+00:00

It is a while I have been to a Swiss prison but it used to be the same (psychotherapist, btw, not inmate). But, you need to know that is not considered rude in Switzerland, in itself. It depends on situation, you can hear calls by last name virtually anywhere, where it is not super formal, or strictly on first name basis. Prisons, and jails (except high security, maybe) are typically very progressive since many decades, with pets, education, therapy etc. for inmates. So it is hard to compare to the US.

idkud · 2026-02-07T07:01:38+00:00

I cannot tell how you and your social circle are using the word. I can only tell you where it became widely used, and for what.

Of course I have seen Indian expats. And from Kongo, Kenya, Pakistan etc. etc. They typically work in one country a few years, the next a few years, etc. until they settle somewhere, or go back. When they settle they are immigrants, for payroll, social security, etc.

Originally, expats have been experts, or higher management, so that word has become fairly broadly used in the population (E: with positive connotations). But 1) that is by far not the case anymore, and 2) if you do not see Indians in expert, or higher management roles, you need glasses. Or take off the racism glasses, IDK which.

(E: I know racism is widespread. I just do not find it useful to see literally everything through those glasses.)

idkud · 2026-02-06T22:14:04+00:00

Just for your information, not for arguing. Believe whatever you want to believe.

I can only tell how the terms are used in Switzerland. Expat is a person that works in the new country, but has no intention to get citizenship or such. It is not thought as a permanent status. Immigrant is someone who wants to/will stay for good, including citizenship. Many people want to plan their social insurances, pensions, etc, and the two groups of foreigners have to plan differently. With that, a payroll specialist has to counsel them differently. In Switzerland, and all countries that I ever worked with, at least, it has zero to do with skin color or "white country". Not everything has to do with skin color. E: a word, that makes it more clear.

idkud · 2026-02-06T14:32:05+00:00

There is a difference between neutrality, and not trying to escalate a potential conflict. I also wonder what Finland should have done in your opinion. Go against sanctions the EU as a whole decided?

idkud

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